WHEN it comes to boxing, few cities in the UK can stand up to the history of Merseyside's fight scene, and this Christmas you can own a slice of the region's pugilistic past.

A new book, 'The Mersey Fighters', was released yesterday and is a must for sports fans of all ages.

Based around former ECHO boxing correspondent Syd Dye's 'Mersey Boxing Hall of Fame' series, the book covers the lives and loves of 118 of Merseyside's most loved former fighters.

From Ike Bradley, the first Scouser to compete for a title in 1906, to the stylish and charismatic charms of John Conteh, the book tells not only the tale of a bygone golden age of boxing but a history of Liverpool itself.

"What a wonderful turn-out," said Dye's widow Norma, "He would have loved to have been here I'm sure.

"Now, like everyone else, I just want to get home and read the book."

Lovingly edited by Merseyside Former Boxers Association secretary Jim Jenkinson and Liverpool boxing historian Gary Shaw, it is clear the book will become a cult classic and a must for fight fans of every age.

Yet without Norma Dye's insistence the book may never have been put together.

Jenkinson reveals: "After Syd passed away Norma invited me round and opened the door to his office, offering myself, on behalf of the Former Boxers Association, anything from his personal diaries.

"It was then we stumbled across his hugely popular 'Hall of Fame' series, and Norma suggested - as she had done to Syd for many years - that we put it all together in one book."

That was four years ago. Now after many hours burning the candle at both ends the book is finished, and a fitting tribute to a man who was much more than a sports correspondent but also a proud servant to the sport he loved so much.

The original 'Hall of Fame' series pre-dated the 1970s and form the core of the book, although around 25 later additions are also included, like Conteh, Alan Rudkin and Harry Scott, who, as members of the MFBA, could not be left out.

Intriguingly, though, a fistful of more modern-day champions did not make it - like Paul Hodkinson, Shea Neary, Andy Holligan and Colin Dunne - paving the way, I'm sure, for a second instalment.

Watch this space . . . . 'Mersey Fighters', priced #9.99, is published by Milo Books. All proceeds go directly to the Merseyside Former Boxers Association.